CN104736911A

CN104736911A - A flow apparatus

Info

Publication number: CN104736911A
Application number: CN201380051629.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: P·兰伯特; G·格雷戈里; O·科博德
Original assignee: Linde GmbH
Current assignee: Linde GmbH
Priority date: 2012-10-01
Filing date: 2013-09-25
Publication date: 2015-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 2033-09-25
Also published as: US20150247589A1; PL2904298T3; US10047876B2; DK2904298T3; GB2506447B; GB201217551D0; EP2904298B1; PT2904298T; EP2904298A1; AU2013326707B2; HK1211677A1; ES2728908T3; WO2014053371A1; GB2506447A; BR112015007073A2; AU2013326707A1; CN104736911B

Abstract

The present invention provides a flow apparatus (10) for a vessel storing fluid under pressure having a flow control valve (12) having a housing (14) and an outlet aperture (16) and further including a valve seat (18) and a sealing member (20) for sealing against said seat (18) such as to obturate said outlet (16), said apparatus further including an actuator (22) connected to said sealing member (20) for moving it between an open position of the valve in which it unobturates the outlet aperture (16) and a closed position in which it obturates said outlet, characterised by an electrical switch (24) for controlling the supply of electrical current to one or more electrical components (25) and wherein said switch is operably connected to said sealing member (20) to allow for the passage of current when said valve (12) is in a first position and to restrict the flow of current when said valve (12) is in a second position. Such an apparatus may be used to control the flow of gas from a gas bottle and to ensure that electricity is only supplied when needed, thus prolonging battery life and reducing maintenance.

Description

Flow meter

Technical field

The present invention relates to flow meter such as fluid flow control valve, particularly relate to but be not limited to have the flow meter of relative electric component, wish the current flow controlling through this electric elements according to the working state of flow control valve.

Background technique

Known at present, the fluid flow flowing through valve can be manually controlled or electronic control by means of the handle or actuator being engaged to this valve, to allow to open and close this valve as required and when needed.It is also known that the electronic current display unit using the advanced information system combined based on valve position.It may be debatable for supplying the electric power of such display unit, especially when this valve is used in portable use or remote application.Latest development in display unit proposes requirements at the higher level at the power supply requirement of this sampling device, and the electric power supply only from battery source may cause than expecting short system service time and causing more maintenance requirements, because battery needs more regular replacing.

In view of the foregoing, there is a kind of demand to such configuration, it can manage the current drain from power supply better when using together with the electric elements that flow meter associates.The object of this invention is to provide a kind of power management configuration, it is applicable in the application like this of the demand that can reduce (if elimination) current drain.

Summary of the invention

Therefore, the invention provides a kind of flow meter of the container for storage pressure fluid, this flow meter has flow control valve, this flow control valve has housing and exit orifice, and comprise valve seat further and for sealing described valve seat to close the Sealing of described exit orifice, described device also comprises the actuator being connected to described Sealing, for the mobile seal between the open position and closed position of valve, wherein on the open position of valve, Sealing does not close exit orifice, and the seal closes described exit orifice in closed position, it is characterized in that, for controlling the electronic switch of the electric current supply being supplied to one or more electric elements, wherein said switch is operably connected to described Sealing to allow to provide current path when described valve is in primary importance, and be in second place limit current flow at described valve.

In one configuration, described primary importance is the open position of valve and the described second place is the closed position of valve.In an alternative arrangements, described primary importance is the closed position of valve and the described second place is the open position of valve.

Advantageously, described switch comprises Hall transducer, described device also comprises magnet, this magnet can move between the first position and the second position with described Sealing, wherein when primary importance, this magnet is associated with Hall transducer and represents the first working state of valve, when the second place this magnet and Hall transducer unconnected and represent the second working state of valve.

Preferably, described Hall transducer can handle to be in the current flow that described primary importance limit flows to described electric elements at described magnet, and allows electric current flowing full to flow to described electric elements when described magnet is in the described second place.Or described Hall transducer can handle to be in the current flow that described second place limit flows to described electric elements at described magnet, and electric current flowing full is allowed to flow to described electric elements when described magnet is in described primary importance.

Aptly, described electronic switch is installed on base portion and described magnet is installed on swinging arm, this swinging arm has pivoting point and can pivotable between the first position and the second position, and wherein in primary importance, this magnet is close to described switch, and this magnet is away from described switch in the second position.

In one configuration, described base portion comprises described valve, and in another configuration, described base portion comprises described housing.

Preferably, described swinging arm comprises free-wheeling mechanism, this free-wheeling mechanism comprises slit within it, and wherein said actuator comprises pin, this pin is mounted to move between the first position and the second position with described actuator, and in primary importance, this pin does not engage with described slit and this pin and described slot joint merge and cause described arm rotate around described pivoting point and cause described magnet to move towards described primary importance in the second position.

Preferably, described free-wheeling mechanism comprises Geneva mechanism.

This configuration also can comprise for the bias piece towards swinging arm described in described second place bias voltage.Or this configuration can comprise for the bias piece towards swinging arm described in described primary importance bias voltage.

This configuration also can comprise electric elements, this electric elements has row mode for the national games and standby mode, and wherein said switch is connected to this electric elements, to allow the electric current of higher the first level to flow to described parts when being in described row mode for the national games, and parts described in the current direction allowing the second lower level when being in described standby mode.

In a preferred disposition, provide the circuit such as in circuit board form, this circuit board comprises described switch and is connected to power supply unit and described electric elements, and wherein said circuit board is mounted on the surface of the housing.

Advantageously, described circuit board can comprise substantially rigid portion and flexible part, and described switch is arranged in this substantially rigid portion, and this flexible part is between described rigid portion and described electric elements.

In one configuration, described valve comprises the main ON/OFF control valve for gas tank.

Preferably, described valve also comprises fully open position and the detection device for the fully open position that detects valve.

Aptly, described electric elements comprises the visual display unit for showing gas flow information, and this gas flow information is determined by detecting valve position.

In a concrete configuration, the downstream of described valve is provided with second control valve, for controlling the flow velocity from this device, wherein said second control valve comprises the position detecting device of the position for detecting this second control valve, and wherein said position detecting device is operably connected to the visual display unit for showing gas flow information, this gas flow information is determined by the position of detection second control valve.

Preferably, described device comprises circuit board, and described circuit board comprises described position detecting device and is connected to power supply unit and described electric elements, and wherein said circuit board is installed on the surface of base portion.

Accompanying drawing explanation

Above-mentioned characteristic sum further feature of the present invention now will only exemplarily come to be described with reference to accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is equidistant total figure of the Flow valve that the present invention comprises;

Fig. 2 is the viewgraph of cross-section of the typical valve closing device that can be used in the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is another isometric view of the device of Fig. 1, but better illustrates switching element of the present invention.

Figure is the perspective view of valve shell, shows the installation of relative a part of switching mechanism;

Fig. 5 is the equidistant separate views of actuator and switching element above-mentioned;

Fig. 6 is the exploded view along arrow B direction of the device of Fig. 5 and shows interactional multiple point between actuator handle and switching element; With

Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 shows switch on the first and second positions and handle device.

Embodiment

Present general reference accompanying drawing, but particularly with reference to figure 1 and Fig. 2, flow meter 10 comprises flow control device, it is for controlling fluid from container 1 as the flow of gas, this flow meter 10 also comprises flow control valve 12, this flow control valve 12 has housing 14 and exit orifice 16, this flow meter 10 also comprise valve seat 18 and for seal valve seat 18 to close as required and when needed the Sealing 20 of (closedown) exit orifice 16.Valve 12 can comprise the main ON/OFF control valve of gas supply system or gas tank 1.This device also comprises such as with the actuator shown in simple handle 22 form, this handle 22 is connected to Sealing 20 for moving the seal between open and closed positions, when open position, the seal does not close (opening) exit orifice 16, and the seal closes (closedown) exit orifice 16 when closed position.This handle can be replaced by solenoid or stepper motor (not shown).Be provided with the switch totally indicated with 24, it is for controlling the electric current supply to one or more electric elements 25, and electric elements 25 is such as those parts that will be described in more detail below.Switch itself 24 is such as operably connected to Sealing 20 in mode described below, thus it is operated to allow to provide according to valve position the current path of one of two levels when valve.Although these two positions can be stop current flowing alternatively completely or make electric current quota flow, but have been found that the advantage of so arranging switch, namely allow the flowing of electric current quota when valve is in primary importance, and allow when valve is in the second place electric current with the traffic flow reduced.The detailed description of this alternately advantage of configuration will be described below.In a preferred disposition, primary importance is equal to the open position of valve and the second place is equal to the closed position of valve.But people will recognize that and can exchange this configuration, be equal to the closed position of valve to make primary importance and the second place is equal to the open position of valve.

This preferred disposition allows to stop when valve cuts out or Limited Current flows, and this is equal to the configuration under this device is in unused state usually, the period that this device also will be equal to electronic equipment and unlikely needs or do not need to operate at full capacity.Therefore, permission is reduced or eliminated the electric current flowing to electronic equipment by such configuration when this flow meter does not use, and usually will benefit battery life and greatly reduce maintenance, this is especially useful when device 10 is used in remote location or expection wants for a long time together with client.Pattern that electric elements has usually " sleep ", to be under " sleep " pattern them can to reduce the level run of current drain, but need some electric currents to allow them to be transformed into " waking up " pattern and this preferred disposition allows to realize this situation.

Such as expecting can use this alternately configuration to during independently electronics energising, when valve is in the closed position this independently electronics may need to be full activity, but this independently electronics " sleep " or shutoff when valve is in an open position.An example can be can detect the air leakage detection system that low-level is leaked during this device does not operate for a long time, or the simple alarming system of visual alarm that generator 10 does not work.Signaling lamp (not shown) can be can at an example of such visual warning system that can use in arrangement.

Although may to provide switch in any one in numerous configuration, but have been found that and Hall transducer 24h can be used to reach extraordinary effect, especially when this Hall transducer uses together with simple magnet 26, this magnet can move between primary importance A and second place B with described Sealing 20, wherein when primary importance A, this magnet is associated with Hall transducer 24h and represents the first working state of valve 12, when second place B this magnet and Hall transducer 24h unconnected or be not close to this Hall transducer 24h and represent the second working state of valve.Moreover people will appreciate that the work of Hall transducer 24h has two kinds of selections.In the first configuration, Hall transducer 24h is arranged to when described magnet 26 is in the electric current that described primary importance limit or obstruction flow to electric elements 25, and allows electric current flowing full to flow to electric elements 25 when described magnet 26 is in the described second place.In alternative arrangements, Hall transducer 24h is arranged to be in described second place limit or obstruction at described magnet 26 and flows to the electric current of electric elements 25 and allow when described magnet 26 is in described primary importance electric current flowing full to flow to electric elements 25.

In this preferred disposition, as shown in drawings, electronic switch 24,24h are arranged on base portion 27, and this base portion can comprise one of them in numerous parts but preferably includes the body of valve 12 itself or surround the housing 14 of this valve 12.This housing 14 will describe hereinafter in further detail.Should notice switch 24,24h are arranged on relatively-stationary object and will allow the simple wiring of relative circuit by emphasis, but always can allow contrary situation, and magnet 26 is arranged on relatively fixed part and switch 24,24h are arranged on active part.Magnet 26 is arranged on actuator/handle 22 or with actuator/handle 22 and is associated, so that it is with actuator/handle motion.In a preferred disposition, magnet 26 is arranged on swinging arm 30, swinging arm 30 have pivoting point 32 and can between primary importance C and the second place D pivotable, this magnet 26 makes switch near described switch when being wherein in primary importance C, and this magnet 26 can not make switch away from described switch 24 when being in second place D.

The useful especially configuration of swinging arm 30 comprises free-wheeling mechanism 32, such as, similarly be known in horological industry " Geneva mechanism (Geneva Mechanism) ".Such mechanism is more specifically illustrated in Fig. 5 to Fig. 8, wherein reference character be 22 parts comprise handle or actuator 22, as mentioned above and as shown in Figures 1 to 4.Other parts comprise swinging arm 30, and this swinging arm 30 comprises slit 34, for engaging to the corresponding movable part be arranged on handle 22 or pin 36.This handle is preferably provided with positioning surface 38, and this positioning surface extends around circumference and comprises otch 40, and along with the motion of swinging arm between two positions, this swinging arm can stretch in this otch 40.Swinging arm 30 itself is preferably provided with a pair positioning surface 44,46, and the shape of each positioning surface is corresponding with the surface 38 that the circumference on handle 22 extends.Substantially, surface 44,46 curved shapes, this arcuate shape has the centre of curvature with the identical or basic simlarity in surface 38, thus in operation, and when handle 22 moves between two positions, surface 44,46 can to fall to putting on surface 38 and to coordinate with it.Screw or pin assembly 48 can be used for swinging arm 30 to be fixed to base portion 27, and are arranged formation for the pivoting point 32 of swinging arm 30 around its pivotable.Other of screw or pin assembly 48 is selected comprise rivet and press from both sides and other such similar object.Arm 30 is provided with suitable hole 50 to hold screw 48 and to form the internal surface 52 rotated around screw 48.Swinging arm 30 also can be provided with recess 52, and this recess is positioned at the side in hole 50 also near surface 46 and for holding magnet 26.Can arrange in fig. 5 and fig. with the bias piece of 54 schematic indication, so that swinging arm 30 is biased into one of two position, all hereafter there is being description each described position.

Other element of the present invention is perhaps shown more clearly in Fig. 1 to Fig. 4, and other element comprises electric elements 25 as display screen or panel or alarm system, electric elements preferably has row mode for the national games and standby mode, but optionally has row mode for the national games and " shut " mode".Power supply such as being connected to electric elements 25 with the battery of 62 schematic indication by switch 24,24h in FIG, to be supplied to the levels of current of electric elements according to the positioning control of switch 24,24h.By means of jointer or independent connecting line or can create circuit by means of circuit board 64, circuit board 64 is used to power supply to be connected to electric elements and the described switch 24, the 24h that comprise the part as circuit.Circuit itself is preferably mounted on described base portion 27 and it preferably includes the surperficial 14s of the housing 14 surrounding valve body body itself as shown in Figure 1.In a preferred disposition, this circuit comprises circuit board 64, this circuit board has roughly rigid portion 64r and one or more flexible part 64f, described switch can be arranged on this roughly on rigid portion 64r, and this flexible part 64f allows this circuit board 64 between described rigid portion 64r and described electric elements 25, be molded into the shape of housing 14.

Electric elements 25 can comprise any one in numerous parts, but preferably includes the visual display screen that can show gas flow information, this gas flow information by through start or otherwise operating switch 24,24h detect valve position to determine.Such display screen correctly can not closed or opens by this valve of alert operator, and can demonstrate main gas flow information to operator, or vision or the alarm of the sense of hearing.Significantly, if valve cuts out completely certainly, without the need to such device, therefore the invention provides a kind of switching system relevant to valve position, it suitably can regulate current flow according to the demand of valve position and electric elements.In a concrete configuration, electric elements has row mode for the national games and standby mode, switch 24,24h are connected on electric elements, thus the current flow of the first higher level is allowed when electric elements is in row mode for the national games, and allow a current flow reduced when electric elements is in sleep or standby mode.

This configuration also can comprise the detection device 70 as being schematically shown in fig. 2, for matching with the associated apparatus or transmitter 72 of valve 12 full-gear detecting valve 12.This configuration also can be included in another or the second control valve 74 in the downstream of main flow control valve 12, and it can be used for finely tuning gas flow.Second control valve 74 also can be provided with in FIG with the position detecting device that 76 schematic indication go out, and for determining the position of the second control valve 74, and can be linked to the electric elements 25 for showing main gas flow from the output of this position detecting device 76.

Can understand the running of free-wheeling mechanism best with reference to figure 7 and Fig. 8, they particularly illustrate two positions of this mechanism.Fig. 7 shows the position when magnet 26 is positioned at the primary importance A of its next-door neighbour Hall transducer 24h, and Fig. 8 shows when magnet 26 moves to configuration when it is no longer close to the second place B of Hall transducer 24h.

First with reference to figure 7, people will recognize that the first surface 44 of pivot 30 is arranged to be slidably matched with the surface 38 on handle 22, and magnet 26 is positioned at primary importance A, at this this magnet of primary importance A place near switch (illustrating with dotted outline) or associated.Handle 22 will cause pin 36 to move until be bonded on wherein towards slit 34 along moving of arrow M direction.Otch 40 is positioned at the below of pin to allow swinging arm 30 around axis 32 rotation and temporarily to extend beyond surface 38, thus this swinging arm 30 pivotable between position E (Fig. 7) and position F (Fig. 8).People will recognize that this motion will cause magnet movement to second place B, in this second position, and the unconnected and suitable control that can start the electric current supply being supplied to electric elements 25 of this magnet and switch/Hall transducer 24,24h.

People will recognize that above-mentioned configuration provides a kind of state according to flow control valve or position to the control mode of electric current supply being supplied to electric elements, and therefore this configuration can control on electric current supply, this allow that longer battery life and less maintenance.Unit is returned to MANUFACTURER simply to install a new battery by needs by usually such maintenance, so the method for this demand of any minimizing all will be highly profitable.

People also will recognize that Hall transducer 24h comprises magnetic switch, and this magnetic switch switches between a serviceability and another serviceability when there is magnetic field.In this configuration, the first state can be closed, thus allows total current flowing, and the second state only can allow limited or " standby " current flowing.Also can use contrary configuration.

In addition, should be understood that above-described each object can be used alone or with shown in accompanying drawing or other object of describing in specification be combined, and the multiple objects occurred in same sentence or same accompanying drawing not necessarily will be combined with each other.In addition, word " device " can replace with actuator or system or equipment as required.In addition, do not represent any type of restriction whenever mentioning " comprising " " by ... composition ", and reader should understand specification and claims accordingly.

Claims

1. the flow meter for the container of storage pressure fluid (10), this flow meter has flow control valve (12), this flow control valve has housing (14) and exit orifice (16), and comprise valve seat (18) further and for sealing described valve seat (18) to close the Sealing (20) of described exit orifice (16), described device also comprises the actuator (22) being connected to described Sealing (20), for the mobile seal between the open position and closed position of valve, wherein on the open position of valve, Sealing does not close exit orifice (16), and the seal closes described exit orifice in closed position, it is characterized in that, for controlling the electronic switch (24) being supplied to the electric current supply of one or more electric elements (40), wherein said switch is operably connected to described Sealing (20), to allow to provide current path when described valve (12) is in primary importance, and be in limit current flow in the second place at described valve (12).

2. flow meter according to claim 1 (10), is characterized in that, described primary importance is the open position of valve (12), and the described second place is the closed position of valve (12).

3. flow meter according to claim 1 (10), is characterized in that, described primary importance is the closed position of valve (12), and the described second place is the open position of valve (12).

4. according to the flow meter (10) one of claims 1 to 3 Suo Shu, it is characterized in that, described switch (24) comprises Hall transducer (24h), and described device (10) also comprises the magnet (26) moved between primary importance (A) and the second place (B) with described Sealing (20), wherein this magnet is associated with Hall transducer (24h) when primary importance (A) and represents the first working state of valve (12), this magnet when the second place (B) and Hall transducer (24h) unconnected and represent the second working state of valve (12).

5. flow meter according to claim 4, it is characterized in that, described Hall transducer can handle to be at described magnet (26) current flow that described primary importance limit flows to described electric elements (40), allows electric current flowing full to flow to described electric elements (40) when described magnet (26) is in the second place.

6. flow meter according to claim 4, it is characterized in that, described Hall transducer can handle to be at described magnet (26) current flow that second place limit flows to described electric elements (40), and allows electric current flowing full to flow to described electric elements (40) when described magnet (26) is in primary importance.

7. according to the flow control device (10) one of claim 2 to 6 Suo Shu, it is characterized in that, described electronic switch (24) is installed in that base portion (27) is upper and described magnet (26) is installed on swinging arm (30), this swinging arm (30) there is pivoting point (32) and can this magnet (26) be close to the primary importance (C) of described switch (24) and this magnet (26) away from described switch (24) the second place (D) between pivotable.

8. flow control device according to claim 7 (10), is characterized in that, described base portion (27) comprises described valve (12).

9. flow control device according to claim 7 (10), is characterized in that, described base portion (27) comprises described housing (14).

10. flow control device according to claim 7 (10), it is characterized in that, described swinging arm (30) comprises free-wheeling mechanism (32), this free-wheeling mechanism (32) comprises position slit in the inner (34), and wherein said actuator (22) comprises pin (36), this pin is mounted for moving between primary importance (E) and the second place (F) with actuator, this pin (36) to engage and this pin (36) engages with described slit (34) when the second place (F) and causes described arm (30) to rotate around described pivoting point (32) at slit (34) described in primary importance (E) Shi Buyu, and cause described magnet (26) mobile to described primary importance (A).

11. flow control devices according to claim 10 (10), is characterized in that, described free-wheeling mechanism (32) comprises Geneva mechanism.

12., according to the flow control device (10) one of claim 7 to 11 Suo Shu, is characterized in that, are provided with for the bias piece (36) towards swinging arm (30) described in the described second place (D) bias voltage.

13., according to the flow control device (10) one of claim 7 to 11 Suo Shu, is characterized in that, are provided with for the bias piece (36) towards swinging arm (30) described in described primary importance (A) bias voltage.

14. according to the flow control device (10) one of claim 1 to 13 Suo Shu, it is characterized in that, comprise electric elements (40), this electric elements has row mode for the national games and standby mode, and wherein said switch (24) is connected to this electric elements, to allow the electric current of higher the first level to flow to described parts (40) when being in described row mode for the national games, and parts (40) described in the current direction allowing the second lower level when being in described standby mode.

15. flow control devices according to claim 14 (10), it is characterized in that, be provided with circuit board (42), this circuit board comprises described switch (24) and is connected to power supply unit (50) and described electric elements (40), and wherein said circuit board (42) is installed on the surface (14s) of housing (14).

16. flow control devices according to claim 15 (10), it is characterized in that, described circuit board (42) comprises substantially rigid portion (44) and flexible part (46), described switch (24) is arranged in this rigid portion (44), and this flexible part (46) is positioned between described rigid portion (44) and described electric elements (40).

17., according to the flow control device (10) one of claim 1 to 16 Suo Shu, is characterized in that, described valve (12) comprises the main ON/OFF control valve for gas tank.

18., according to the flow control device (10) one of claim 1 to 17 Suo Shu, is characterized in that, described valve (12) also comprises fully open position and the detection device (60) for the fully open position that detects valve.

19. according to the flow control device (10) one of claim 1 to 18 Suo Shu, it is characterized in that, described electric elements (40) comprises the visual display unit (48) for showing gas flow information, and this gas flow information is determined by the position detecting valve (12).

20. according to the flow control device (10) one of claim 1 to 19 Suo Shu, it is characterized in that, the downstream of described valve (12) is provided with second control valve (70), for controlling the flow velocity from this device (10), wherein said second control valve (70) comprises the position detecting device (72) of the position for detecting this second control valve, and wherein said position detecting device is operably connected to the visual display unit (48) for showing gas flow information, this gas flow information is determined by the position of detection second control valve (70).

21. flow control devices (10) according to claim 19 or 20, it is characterized in that, described flow control device comprises circuit board (42), described circuit board comprises described position detecting device (72) and is connected to power supply unit (50) and described electric elements (40), and wherein said circuit board (42) is installed on the surface (14s) of base portion (27).